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Good day, denizens of OC.net! Per our tradition, the forum will shut down for Clean Monday, beginning around 9pm Sunday evening (2/18) and ending around 9pm Monday evening (2/19). In the spirit of the coming Forgiveness Sunday, I ask you to forgive me for the sins I have committed against you. At the end of Great and Holy Week, the Forum will also shut down for Holy Friday and Holy Saturday (times TBA).

I a sinner, ask you all to forgive me for anything I may have done or not done ,i ntentionally or unintentionally , to cause you pain or distress

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"Never let anyone try to tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern. The West was fully Orthodox for a thousand years; and her venerable liturgy is far older than any of her heresies."- St. John Maximovitch

So, for anyone who is not acquainted with the Orthodox liturgical year, today is “Forgiveness Sunday.” This is the last day before Great Lent, the longest and strictest fast of the year. Today in every parish the people come together in the evening to ask forgiveness from every other person… in a very real, personal, and intimate way.

Be prepared for a “workout” when you attend this service. It begins with the deacon and priest asking each other’s forgiveness for any offence as they both prostrate before one another. Then, one by one, the congregation goes up to mutually ask first the priest’s forgiveness, then the deacon, then on down the line to everyone else. By the end of the service you’ve prostrated yourself before every single person in the entire parish and asked their forgiveness for any offence.

So, by the by, my wife’s a jerk because as I stepped in front of her in line today she gave me this dirty look and said:“Hey, no cutsies!”

Oh, I almost forget, my wife and I will be praying for everyone who shares our indigestion tonight from trying to eat all the cheese left in our refridgerator.

« Last Edit: March 09, 2008, 06:46:47 PM by _Seraphim_ »

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"Disputes merely about words must not be suffered to divide those who think alike."-St. Athanasius (†444)

Your grace has shown forth, O Lord, the grace which illumines our soul. This is the acceptable time! This is the time of repentance! Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, that passing through the fast as through a great sea, we may reach the resurrection on the third day of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls. (Tone 4, Apositikha, Vespers of Forgiveness)

Yes, Nektarios and Greekichrisitian, that includes you. In fact, you two in particular.

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Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.A hasty quarrel kindles fire,and urgent strife sheds blood.If you blow on a spark, it will glow;if you spit on it, it will be put out; and both come out of your mouth

I ask everyone's forgiveness for my unkind words, my judgmental pronouncements, my lack of understanding, my tactlessness, my failure to see the best in others and the image of Christ, and my lack of charity. Please forgive me a sinner my brothers and sisters in Christ. I wish all a blessed Fast.

Yours in Christ,TinaG

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On the spiritual path somewhere between the Simpsons and St. Theophan the Recluse, but I still can't see the Springfield city limits sign yet.